Dry-pipe valve



March 18, 1930. v L, A, GRlMES 1,751,201

DRY MPE` VALVE Filed June 25, 1925 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 l VUNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE' LESTER A. GRIMES, F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GRIMIES` SPRINKLER f COMPANY, INC., OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY 'DRY-PIPE VALVE Applcationfled June 25, 1925. Serial No. 39,433.

The present invention relates to dry pipe into the usual three chambers, namely, the valves of the semi-mechanical differential inlet, the outlet, and the intermediate. type for automatic sprinkler systems where- The inlet B is controlled by the water. in air under relatively low pressure is utilized clapper D, which clapper is provided with to prevent water under relatively high presa seat such as the ring E suitably secured to 55 sure from entering the system until a fire octhe casing and positioned horizontally with curs and opens one or more sprinkler heads. respectl to the inlet passage. This clapper The object of the invention is to provide is supported by the lever arm F throughthe a valve comprising a minimum number of intermediary of a threaded projection G,

parts and of the utmost simplicity in conwhich projection extends upwardly from 60 struction, with a corresponding reduction the center of the clapper, passes through an in both size and cost; and, at the same time, opening in the arm, and is secured in posia valve which may be termed mechanically tion by the nut G. rlhe projection is prefercorre'ct and hence positive and certain in ably somewhat less in horizontal cross-secaction. tion than the diameter of the opening in the 65' More specifically, one object of the invenarm, and the nut Gr is preferably not turned tion is the provision of means whereby the down to Contact with the arm, in order to opposing pressures of air and water may be provide a lost motion connection, in the o effectively transmitted from one clapper t0 nature of a universal joint, so as to permit the other while insuring proper seating of accurate seating of the clapper. The pivot 70 each clapper, and proper opening movement H, ycarried by the casing, engages a slot I of each upon reduction of the air pressure. in one end of the arm F and provides an Another object is the elimination of sepaaxis about which the water-clapperk oscilrate parts, such as latches and dogs heretolates.

fore employed, to prevent reseatiiig of either The air-clapper J is provided with a gaat 75 clapper after once opened a predetermined such as the ring K suitably secured to the y extent, and to provide in place thereof means casing. This seat is at an angle to the seat whereby the yclapper-arms themSelvcS Will E, and positioned obliquely with respect to operate to prevent reseating. the axis of the water-way. rlhe internal These objects and others incident thereto diameter of the air-clapper seat is sufficient se are accomplished as hereinafter set forth. to prevent restriction of the Water-way, al- The accompanying drawings are for the purthough the opening is in the form of an elpose of illustration, but it is to be expressly lipse rather than round when viewed from understood they are for that purpose only the axis of the outlet, because of the oblique the invention, reference being had to the clapper itself is greater in area than the appended claims for this purpose. The water-clapper in order to provide, in the Y drawings show a vertical section of the dewell-known manner, one kcomponent of the vice as a whole. differential essential to maintaining the wa- In the embodiment of the invention shown, ter-clapper on its seat, the other component the casing A. is provided with the yinlet B being mechanical means below described. communicating with the water supply, and The clapper J is supported by the arm L, with the outlet C communicating with the which arm may be made integral with or as sprinkler system. The inlet and outlet are van extension of the clapper. pivot M, 95 preferably directly opposite each other and carried by the casing, engages a slot N in co-axial in order that a-straight passage-way one end of the arm L and provides an axis through the casing may be provided for the around which the clapper oscillates.' On its water. By the clappers hereinafter delower face the clapper is provided with' a 35 and are not meant to dene the limits 0f positioning with'respect to said axis. The 8x5V scribed, the interior of the casing is divided rubber gasket 0, held in position as by the lo@y this air ringrP and bolts Q, to insure a tight joint between the clapper and .its seat.

Extending downwardly from the airclapper is a projection or lug R, the lower end ofwhich rests upon an inclined surface S, provided at the outer end of the water-clap per arm F, said surface being normally in a plane substantially parallel to that of the airclapper. The projection R may be formed as part of the ringP, or made separately and secured to the lower face of the air-clapper in any desired manner. This4 projection is positioned intermediate the center of the airclapper and its pivot M, and the contact thereof with the outer end ofthe arm F afifords a mechanical leverage to complement the difference in area between the two clappers, and thus provides the differential whereby the water-dapper is maintained normally closed against relatively high water pressure by means of the air-clapper under the influence of relatively low air pressure. The arrangement of parts as here shown is for a differential in the ratio of approximately 6 to l.

The pressure of water in a line perpendicular to the plane of the clapper. up by the pivot H, and the balance is exerted on the air-clapper through the medium of the projection R. The pressure of air on the clapper J is likewise in a line perpendicular to the plane of the clapper. A small part of pressure is taken up bythe seat K and the pivot M, and the balance is exerted on the water-clapper through the medium of the projection R, to maintain the latter normally" closed against the water pressure.

The pivoted end of the air-clapper arm L is extended to form a shoulder T. When the air-clapper is in its normal closed position this extension T abuts against the shoulder T, car 1ied by the casing, and preventsthe clapper from of its seat. l/Vhen in such closed position, the pivot M is in the portion of the slot N nearest the valve seat K.

The pivoted end of the water-clapper arm F is likewise extended to form a shoulder U; and when the water-dapper is in its normal closed position this extension U abuts against a shoulder U on the casing, land prevents the water-clapper from being shifted in the plane of its seat toward the casing by the constant push'of the air-clapper through the projection R on the inclined surface S. lVhen in such closed position, the pivot H is in the portion of the slot I farthest'removed from the valveseat E.

Tn operation, when one or more sprinkler heads open, air is released from the system, the valves become unbalanced, the waterclapper is raised from its seat by the greater water pressure, and the air--clapper is raised from its seat in like proportion because of on the clapper D is Part of this water pressure is taken Y sliding downward in the plane4 V with respect to the pivot the pressure thereon through the medium of the projection R. Continued opening movement of the clappers, due to the inrush of water from the main, causes them finally to assume the position shown in dotted lines.

To prevent the formation of water-column in the sprinkler system, and thereby impose upon the clapper J the pressure of such column and thus prevent operation, means are provided whereby. neither clapper is' per; mitted to reseat after onceopened. When. the clappers are opening', the initial movement of the air-clapper will be one of oscillation about its aXis., Because of the engagement between t-he extension T on the clapper arm and the shoulder T on the casing, opening of the clapperwill be accompanied byan. upward movement of translation in additionV to the movement of oscillation, which combined movements will continueuntil said eX- tension T has slippedjby the 'shoulder T, whereupon the clapperwill have` a translatory movement in the opposite direction, induced by gravity, and said shoulderv then being above the extension on the clapper-arm will act as a stop to prevent reseating. The pivot M is the main axis aroundV which the clapper oscillates, but the shoulder T is nevertheless effective as a fulcrum on vwhich the lever arm L rests and about which it initially turns. By the` manner of mounting the clapper on its pivot M, the lowermost portion of the slot N does notengage the pivot until the clapper has reached the uppermost limit of its lateral movement, thereby permittingV the upward translatory movement.

In order to insure theabove operation, the reaction of the water-dapper upon the air# clapper must be in such direction that the airclapper is not shifted longitudinally kaway from the abutment T, or, on the other hand, thatit is not wedged as in either case initial pivoting about theY point T would be impossible. It has been found by various tests that the proper operation depends to a great extent upon the slope of the surface S at the point of Contact of slope of thisv provided; so that, upon further rotation, the' air-clapper may be held in the more open po sition,-this shoulder T2 co-operating in the same manner as the shoulder' T with the eX- tension T. Still further rotationof the clapper will carry it beyond itscenter of gravity,- `M, and it will then fall back against the interior-side wall of the.y casing, as shown in dotted lines.

The opening of the water-clapper is similar to that of the air-clapper in .that combined movements of oscillation and translation are involved. Pivot H is the main axis around imv which the clapper oscillates, while at the same time the shoulder U serves as a fulcrum on which the lever arm F rests and about which it initially turns. When the parts are in normal position, pivot H is in the outermost portion of slot I. During the opening movement the extension U slides downward on shoulder U and the arm F likewise slides downward as a whole on its pivot; so that, when in full open position as shown in detted lines, the Vpivot is in the other end of its slot and the projection U is below its shoulder U', the latter then acting as a stop to prevent reseating.

The iow through the opened sprinkler heads is discontinued by the usual valve located between the inlet B and the source of supply. lVater then left in the system is carried olf through the usual drain lV, normally closed and controlled by a suitable valve. Access to the interior of the casing is then gained by removal of the plate X, secured in position as by the bolts Y, anu the clappers manually restored to seated position. Following this restoration, the proper pressure of air is introduced into the system, the valve in the main opened, and the device made ready for future use.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

l. A dry pipe valve comprising a casing, an air-clapper and a water-clapper therein, means for transmitting pressure from one to the other when seated, projections carried by the casing, and independent supporting means for each clapper each adapted to coact with one of said projections to impart to the clapper upon opening a combined motion of rotation and of translation in a plane approximately parallel to that of the clapper, the said'projections and supporting means being` relatively so arranged that the supporting means will fall by gravity past the projections as the clappers move to the full open position.

2. A dry pipe Valve comprising a casing, an air-clapper and a water-clapper therein, means for transmitting pressure from one to the other when seated, projections carried by the casing, and independent supporting means for each of said clappers arranged to coact with said projections to have combined movement of rotation and translation to open the waterway and a further movement induced by gravity whereby the clappers are prevented from reseating,

3. In a dry pipe valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, an air-clapper and a water-clapper therein arranged totransmit pressure from one to the other when seated, an independent support for each of said clappers, a slot in the outer end of each support, said slot extending in a plane approximately parallel to that of its clapper, pivots carried by said casing engaging the respective slots and around whichn said clappers respectively oscillate, and shoulders carried by said casing positionedto engagerand hold said clapper supports when the clappers are seated and to release said supports for adapted to co-act with said projections for Van initial rotation about the latter and to prevent reseating of the clapper after opening a predetermined extent, each supporting means being mounted in the casing independently of said projections in such manner as to permit said initial rotation.

5. In a device for automatic sprinkler sys-y tems, a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, a clapper in said casing, and supporting means for said clapper adapted to impart thereto a simultaneous and combined movement of rotation and of translation in a plane substantially parallel to that of the clapper to change the position of the clapper and to yprevent its return to normal position.

6. In a dry pipe valve, a casing having two valve seats arranged therein at an acute angle to each other, independently mounted upper and lower valves therefor, a supporting structure for the upper valve having a part of its surface so shaped as to bear against a projection carried by the casing when the upper valve is seated, said supporting structure being provided with a slot extending substantially in the plane of the upper valve seat and adapted to receive a hinge pin therethrough, and a surface on the supporting structure of the lower valve adaptedito be en- Y gaged by a member carried by the upper valve when seated, the slope of said surface at the point of engagement being such as to insure initial pivoting of the upper valve about the point of contact of its supporting structure with the projection on the casing, the said projections and supporting means being relatively so arranged that the supporting means will fall by gravity past the projections as the clappers move to the full open position.

7. rlhe combination according to claim 6 wherein the slope of said surface on the supporting structure of the lower valve is substantially parallel to the plane of the upper valve seat.

8. In a dry pipe valve, a casing having two valve seats arranged therein at an acute angle to each other, independently mounted upper and lower valves therefor, a supporting structure foreach valve, two projections carried by said casing each adapted to engage one of said supporting structures when the Valves are seated, hinge pins carried by the easing each so connected with one of said structures as to permit denite vlongitudinal movement of the associated valve, a member 5 carried bythe upper valve adapted when the valves are seated to engage a surface of the supporting structure of the lower valve to transmit pressure therebetween, the engaging surface of the supporting structure of the lolower valve being at such an angle as to insure initial pivoting of said upper valve about the point of engagement of the supporting' structure therefor with the associated projection on the casing rather than. about its assooiated hinge pin, the said projections and supporting means being relatively so arranged that the supporting means will fall by gravity past the projections as the clappers move to the full open position.

9. The Combination according to claim 8 wherein said engaging surface of the supporting structure of the lower valve is in a i plane substantially parallel to the upper valve seat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication.

LESTER A. GRIMES. 

